Theme: Saga: Weaving Humanity's Tapestry

Humanity could be a million years old or just a definition jotted down a few centuries back. Nevertheless, homo sapiens have been kicking around a wet speck in space for a while now. And while lingering about, we have made a legacy to boast about.

The rise and fall, the ups and downs, and the meandering turns mankind has taken have been painted and weaved onto the tapestry - our legacy and the proof of our existence in an otherwise unchanging and indifferent universe. People spanning cultures, eras, nationalities, and backgrounds have all contributed their part to compiling the greatest saga of all time, even better than Star Wars. This saga has been visualised, part by part, and time-to-time in tapestries. These tapestries follow the well-known saying: "Pictures speak a thousand words!"

Join us as we weave together the tapestry of the lives, the ideas, and the revolutions made by transient individuals to make an immortal and pompous representation of humanity: Humanity's Tapestry...

IIT Hyderabad
IITH Road
Near NH-65
Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, 502285
India

Aarathi Selvan

Clinical psychologist

Aarathi Selvan founded Pause for Perspective, a mental health organization based in Hyderabad. They are a counseling psychologist with a dual Master's from Columbia University & a clinical psychologist with an MPhil from Osmania University. Currently, a Ph.D. scholar at Madras University, Aarathi is a true expert in their field. Their unique approach to mental health focuses on intersections of embodied social justice, queer-affirmative, neurodivergence-affirmative, and disability justice. Aarathi and their team of women, trans, and non-binary practitioners are working to provide mental health awareness and advocacy for young people, families, and collectives in the margins. They have partnered with the government, private schools, and welfare homes throughout Hyderabad to offer mental health, gender, and sexuality awareness and advocacy, for children and their stakeholders. Aarathi's altruistic vision is to continue working towards sustainable mental health support and access for all.

Anuradha Thota

Founder, CEO and Managing Director, Blackbucks Group

Have you encountered a trailblazing entrepreneur who has revolutionized education and pioneered centers of excellence? Anuradha Thota, founder and CEO of Blackbucks Group, is a passionate entrepreneur and higher education specialist who has helped over 110,000 students achieve their career goals. With a strong belief in the power of people to transform and inspire students, she has built the largest chain of centers of excellence in AI and heads the Board of Studies for seven educational institutions. She also holds honorary positions as a member of the Police Technology Mission and Program Director for Prof Alan M Turing CoE in AI.

Dr. CVS Kiran

Lead - R&D and Strategy at Skyroot Aerospace, Hon. Director at AnanthaP

Being a man with a vision that sees beyond our universe, Dr. CVS Kiran is a proud contributor to Skyroot Aerospace’s missions as a lead and R&D strategist and as an R&D director at AnanthaP. He has also worked for VSSC while being associated with the HIU and KIT as a guest scientist. Dr. Kiran was elected as a fellow for Andhra Pradesh Akademi of Sciences and also served as a member of the scientific convent - KIT. He has published about 100 scientific papers and holds one patent. With an unassuming appearance coupled with extraordinary thoughts, his work for prestigious missions in the field of Science and Technology in India truly motivates and encourages the young generation to aspire for mammoth endeavors.

Dr. Ramakantha + Dr. Ananya Rao

Director & Senior Scientist respectively, Forests by Heartfullness

Dr. V Ramakantha Rao and his daughter Dr. Ananya Rao have been a significant part of the ex-situ and the in-situ conservation in Kanha Shantivanam, Hyderabad. Dr. Ramakantha Rao is a critically acclaimed wildlife photographer who has been a member of the Indian Forest Service and then got superannuated as the Principal Chief Conservator of forests, whereas Dr. Ananya Rao, who did her Ph.D. from the Centre for Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Bangalore, is working as a consultant with UNESCO MGEIP. Being the director of Forests by Heartfulness, Dr. Ramakantha Rao has created a swathe of rain-forest in the inhospitable soil conditions and torrid climate of Ranga Reddy District, Telangana. Dr. Ananya Rao had the privilege of working with the pioneers of climate change research in India and has studied the carbon in soil and biomass in India.

Murtuza Kutianawalla

Founder and CEO, Bizzy Baby Media and Entertainment

Murtuza Kutianawalla is a media and entertainment industry professional with 12 years of experience. After completing his M.COM degree, he founded a theatre company, directing and producing five commercially successful plays that have been staged over 200 times across India and overseas. He worked as an Anchor/VJ for Walt Disney India in 2011, representing the company in various initiatives. He also played the lead role in "Best of Luck Nikki", a Walt Disney India series that has gained over a billion views on YouTube and Hotstar. Since 2016, Murtuza has been an integral part of Hooplakidz, a global MCN/kids network, contributing to the creation and growth of several IPs in the digital ecosystem. In 2017, he founded Bizzy Baby Media, creating multiple IPs in the animation sector and working on successful campaigns for ICICI Bank, JSW One Homes, and UNESCO. Murtuza's passion is to use effective content marketing to build brands. Every story is good! All you need is a good storyteller!

Raju Kendre

Founder and CEO, Eklavya India Foundation

Raju Kendre, a Social Entrepreneur, hails from a nomadic tribal family in Vidarbha, where his parents could not complete primary education. Raju's experiences inspired him to found Eklavya India Foundation in 2017. The Foundation aims to democratise higher education and leadership opportunities in marginalised communities. Over the last five years, Foundation has made a significant impact by conducting career awareness workshops for 25,000 students from rural and tribal regions and enabling 700 first-generation learners to gain admission into over 60 top-notch universities and fellowship programmes. The Foundation has provided a cumulative 0.7 Million hours of mentorship and career guidance to marginalised students from all over India. Raju holds a Master's in Social Work from the TISS. He has also completed his MSc in Development Studies at the SOAS, University of London, on the Chevening Scholarship offered by the FCDO, UK. He is also a fellow at the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA).